Super Bowl: Former Bethune-Cookman player Nick Collins has interception return in Packers win

Nick Collins etched his name into the Green Bay Packers history books on Sunday when he helped his team beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-25, in Super Bowl XLV.

Collins, a former Bethune-Cookman University player from Cross City, Florida (Dixie County High School), intercepted a first-quarter pass and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown. The score put the Packers up 14-0 at the time.

Collins, who also had four solo tackles and a pass deflection, was one of 13 players with Florida ties on the Steelers or Packers. That included Steelers rookie All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey (Florida/Lakeland HS). Pouncey was injured in the AFC championship game and did not play. His absence was noticeable, as the Packers successfully put pressure on Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger with a variety of blitz packages.


Videographer: SBSuperBowl; Collins ran for 37 yard touchdown, scoring on the 13th interception return in Super Bowl history.

Super Bowl XLV: Nick Collins, Jarrett Bush, Clay Matthews force turnovers that vault Packers to win

ARLINGTON, Tex. - For all the hype swirling about the star quarterbacks, the Packers' defense made the three most pivotal plays of Super Bowl XLV. Dom Capers' unit intercepted Ben Roethlisberger twice in the first quarter and forced a game-changing fumble in the fourth to help the Pack win its fourth Lombardi Trophy.

"You can't turn the ball over," Steelers wideout Hines Ward said. "You can't do it at this stage of the game for the Super Bowl."

Aaron Rodgers converted the Steelers turnovers into three TDs to help prevent Pittsburgh from winning its seventh title.

The Packers got help from Jets castoff Howard Green, who forced the first mistake of the night. Green, who was released by Gang Green in October for being overweight, forced Roethlisberger into an errant throw in the first quarter with pressure up the middle. Green hit Roethlisberger, whose underthrown pass was intercepted by Nick Collins. The safety weaved through traffic before leaping into the end zone for a 14-0 lead.


Videographer: akaGameBoy; Nick Collins post-game interview.

Super Bowl XLV: Packers' Collins weaves way into spotlight with interception return

ARLINGTON, Texas — Throughout the week, Nick Collins was the forgotten free safety in Super Bowl XLV. While the Pittsburgh Steelers' Troy Polamalu garnered the lion's share of the attention for his flowing locks, friendly demeanor, big-play reputation and newly minted NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award, Collins, the Green Bay Packers' six-year veteran, quietly went about his business.

Once the Super Bowl rolled around, however, it was Collins, not Polamalu, who made the biggest defensive play of the game. He gave the Packers a 14-0 lead when he intercepted a Ben Roethlisberger pass and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown, a critical play in their 31-25 victory over the Steelers on Sunday.

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